to a spectacular scene playing out off of California a powerful storm churning up 40-foot waves. Nick watt with the pictures tonight. Reporter: This is the super bowl of surfing. Catching 40 foot waves half a mile off the California coast. Just 48 hours ago, word went out the mavericks invitational was on, the last of the world's best big wave surfers stumbled off red-eye flights early this morning. The storm battering the pacific kicking up once-in-a-decade waves over in Hawaii had reached mavericks. It's one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Reporter: Big wave surfing is now huge with riders travelling the world to catch monster waves up to 100 feet high. And the mavericks invitational is their blue ribbon event. And the winner, a 40-year-old south african nicknamed twiggy. Nick watt, ABC news. Still much more ahead on

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